Roll-over machine



March 12, 1963 o. CARLSEN 3,080,984

ROLL-OVER MACHINE Filed May 22, 1961 s sheets-Sheet 1 1 INVEJVTOR.

CL A F CARL SEN Krramvs .r

March 12, 1963 o. CARLSEN ROLL-OVER MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1961 INVENTOR. OLAF (8R1. SEI'Y March 12, 1963 o. CARLSEN 3,080,984

ROLL-OVER MACHINE Filed May 22, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVHVTOR. OLHF CHRLSE/Y QM 5B flTTORNE Y United States Patent Q i 3,080,984 RGLL-OVER MACHINE Olaf Carlsen, Target 2, Sarpsborg, Norway Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,741 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention relates to what will herein be designated a bale roll-over mechanism.

Explanatory to the invention, it will here be noted that when wrapping and binding stacks or bales of sheet a material such as paper, pulp, cellulose, etc., or any other of the bale under preparation.

The present invention relates particularly to an apparatus whereby such rolling-over of the stack may be effected in a simple manner while at the same time holding it secure.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a stack roll-over apparatus having a stack receiving space, defined by parallel, top and bottom limiting faces extend ing in the direction of introduction of the stack and a stop face positioned transversely of the direction of stack introduction and at right angles to said parallel limiting faces; at least one of the latter faces being adapted to perform a stack compressing displacement in a direction at right angles to the plane of said face during a roll-over movement of the space as a whole about an axis extending at a right angle to the direction of introduction of the bales, to the effect that not only is the bale rolled over, but at the same time, is subjected to such compressing pressure that no movement of the stack as a whole is possible Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The present apparatus comprises a supply conveyt composed of a plurality of parallel, coextensive link bel' 10, operated at their outer ends about sprocket wheels 1 of equal diameter fixed on a horizontal drive shaft 12 th: is shown in FIG. 1 to be rotatably mounted in suppor ing bearings 13-13 at opposite sides of the conveyo and at their inner ends operate about similar sproclo wheels 11a mounted on individual supports 12' that me be fixed to the machine supporting surface. Shaft 12 shown in FIG. 1 to be driven by an electric motor 1 operating through speed reduction gearing, designated 1 15, and a sprocket chain belt 16 connecting the gearir and the shaft.

The several conveyor belts 10 are so spaced as to ope ate individually between spaced parallel fingers 18 whit as shown in FIG. 2, form the lower limiting face of tl space in the apparatus into which the stacks are to be i troduced by the conveyor.

At a distance spaced from and above the fingers 1 and parallel thereto, as seen in FIG. 2, is a second s of fingers 20; these being so disposed as to form the t( or second limiting face of the stack receiving space; tl fingers 18 and 20 being in opposed relationship at botto and top sides of the receiving space.

The belts 10 terminate at their inner ends close to set of vertical battens 21 which form the inner end st: face of the receiving space and which are mounted presently explained. The lower and upper sets of fa defining fingers 1S and 20 are supported by and betwe vertical posts or standards 22-42 located at oppos sides of the machine, as well srown in FIG. 1 and whi posts comprise upper and lower portions that are fix in axial alignment perpendicularly to a horizontal cro shaft 24 that extends at its ends beyond the posts 22 and is revolubly contained in supporting bearings 25-- relative to the space nor is there any relative movement of the constituting elements of the stack or bal For the purpose of obtaining just the desired compression of the bale during the rolling-over operation, it is a further object of this invention to provide certain novel stationary guides for governing the movement of the movable limiting face during the rolling-over of the space as a whole; these guides being adjustable to suit diiferent bale sizes and different bale material, and the guides may also comprise a resilient portion or part adapted todamp the compression during such portions of the roll-over movement, if so desired.

It is also an object of this invention to so arrange the apparatus that the movable limiting face may perform its movement under the force of rolling over, or it may be subjected to such external force, for instance by means of a spring, that the space between the pair of limiting faces will be reduced to a minimum.

In accomplishing the above and various other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan, or top view of the stack roll-over mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken on line Sr-.3; in;

FIG. 2.

on a supporting frame structure 26. It is noted in F1 3 that the two posts 2222 extend equally above a below the cross-shaft 24, and it is further to be und stood, by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, that the battens are fixed to the cross-shaft 24 at right angles to the fingt and extend the full distance between the fingers 18 and i The unit formed by the fingers 18 and that unit form". by the fingers 20 are, respectively, mounted by slee 27 and 2$ that are slidably fitted about opposite end p tions of the posts 2222.

The two units, as comprised by the fingers 18 and and battens 21, are adapted to be rolled-over as a wh about cross-shaft 24 to a position in which the space defined between the fingers and by the battens as sho at the left hand side in FIG. 2, reverts to the posit shown at the right of the cross-shaft in FIG. 1, and c sequently constitute the discharge space of the appara1 into which discharge space conveyor belts 10' extend the same manner as the belts 10 as shown in FIG. 1.

It is shown in FIG. 1 that the conveyor belts 10' oper at their outer ends about sprocket wheels 11x fixed o cross-shaft 12x rotatably mounted in supporting beari 13x13x and driven by an electric motor 14x throw reduction gearing 15x and sprocket chain belt 16x.

I Obviously, the machine may be constructed one Sl( that is, as in the manner of that side first describe( the left of cross-shaft 24 in FIG. 2, but it is most c enient both from the standpoint of counter-balancing and o rational, economic operation, to construct the apparatus s herein illustrated having battens 21 and 31 at opposite ides of cross-shaft 2 and opposedly related pairs of ingers 1820 and 18'--2G' extending, respectively, in op iOSllC directions from the posts so as to form a pair of paces, of which that at the left of center in FIG. 1 always :onstitutes the receiving charge space and that space at he right of center constitutes the discharge space. In his manner, the apparatus is perfectly balanced and may )perate at a double rate.

The two sleeves 27 and 28 which mount the finger lnits on the posts 22-22 have stepped guide rolls 3.; and i1 mounted thereon to cooperate on the stationary guide .urfaces 32 and 33 at opposite sides of the machine. The 'olls 30 and 31 include the larger part Sil a and 33a, re- :peetively, and the portions of smaller or reduced diimeter 30b and 31b, respectively. These surfaces may )6 as shown in FIG. 2 wherein the right hand portion 52a and 33 constitutes the paths followed by the roll 31 1nd consequently controls movements of the fingers 2i) tnd 20 during a turning movement by the cross-shaft 24 n the direction of the arrow T in FIG. 2, that is, during :ompression and roll-over of a bale, whereas the left hand )ortion 32b constitutes the path followed by roll 30, the lischarge fingers being moved upwardly to the position For the purpose of providing full charge space.

The guide member 33 is formed into a generally pear- ;haped circumference and it is hinged at 36 at its top end Jortion and is connected, in its lower end portion through 1 link 37 to a weight 38 which is hinged at 39 in the thell 40. The shell 40 comprises one arm of a bell crank vype lever pivoted at 41 with its other arm 02 constituting t toothed segment engaged with a worm 43 for the pur- )ose of effecting adjustment of the angular position of he shell. By a rocking movement of the shell 49, the )ositions of the guide 33 may be adjusted through link 57. The member 44} supports a tensioned, resilient memer 45 which is extended close to one side thereof to the :ffect that the roll 31 when following the path 33 will strike softly against the resilient member 45 and thereby ae damped in its further movement downward along the ath 33. The tensioning of the member -45 may be adusted in any suitable manner to make the movement of oil 31 and thereby the finger unit 2026 suits the bale size and bale material under treatment.

In operation of the apparatus, bales are, in turn, introiuced into the charge space between fingers 18 and 29 1nd battens 21 by means of conveyor belts 10, wherelpon the shaft 24 is started, for instance under the con- .rol of a photo-electric cell 52, so that the portion 31a 3f roll 31 is moved downwardly along the top right hand portion of the guide 32a and the portion 31b of roll 31 Follows along the guide 33, during which movement the aales are initially caused to engage the battens 21 and hereby be perfectly straightened, whereupon the sleeves Z8-28 and fingers 2d secured thereto slide downwardly 3n the posts 2222 so that the fingers 20 clamp the bale firmly against the fingers 18, to the effect that the constituents of the bale, for instance sheets, can not be displaced relatively to each other. When the roll 31 strikes against the resiilent member 45, the movement is dampened by the unit constituted by the fingers 20 so :hat the compression and clamping of the bale is made slightly elastic during the continued movement until the fingers arrive in the position shown occupied by the ingers 13 in FIG. 1, during which movement the roll has performed a movement along the path 32!) and thereby released the bale, which is immediately caught by the discharge conveyor 10. At the same time, a fresh bale is introduced in the charge space which is now formed to the left in FIG. 1 between the fingers 13' and 20' which are now occupying the position shown as occupied by fingers 18 and 20. Thereupon the cycle of operation is repeated as described.

For the purposes of safeguarding the apparatus and the performance of automatic operation, the apparatus may be equipped with photo-electric control means. As mentioned, a photo-electric cell 52 may be arranged in association with the charge space, for the purpose of starting the operation when a bale is in position in the charge space. A further photo-electric cell 53 may be associated with the discharge space, for the purpose of preventing starting of the operation as long as a bale is still in the discharge space, and/or a safety switch 54 may be arranged which switch must be passed by the bale prior to the initiation of operation.

For the purpose of adjusting the apparatus to accommodate bales of different height, there is provided photoelectric cells 55 and 56 and light sources 57 and 58, respectively, and arranged in posts 59 and 59 at opposite sides of the entering space. Such cells are so connected that the light impinging on cell 55 will be interrupted by an entering bale, whereas the light impinging on cell 56 is to be uninterrupted if the apparatus is to operate at all.

The cells 55 and 56 together with the light sources 57 and 58 are vertically adjustable along graduated scales on their supporting posts 59 and 59' by means of a hand wheel 62 shown in FIG. 3 to be applied to an adjusting mechanism designated generally by numeral 63 which operates through shafts 64, see FIG. 3, and shafts 65, see FIG. 2, to effect adjustment of the resilient tensioning members 45' mounting the Worms 43, as shown in FIG. 2.

While it has been previously stated that the roll-over operation maybe powered by any suitable means, it has herein been shown that shaft 24 has a driving connection at one end with an electric motor 69 through a reduction gearing shown at 61. It is further to be observed by reference to FIG. 1 that the parts 32334 l are duplicated at opposite sides of the machine.

What I claim as new is:

1. A bale roll-over mechanism comprising a supporting frame, a horizontally disposed, rotatable cross-shaft mounted for rotation on said frame, a pair of laterally spaced posts mounted on said cross-shaft medially of the ends thereof, two sleeves slidably mounted on each post, one above and one below said cross-shaft, a plurality of laterally spaced bale supporting and clamping fingers secured to and between the pair of sleeves above and the pair of sleeves below said cross-shaft, a bale engaging means secured to said cross-shaft at right angle to said fingers, stationary guide means mounted adjacent at least one of said posts, follower means secured to both of the sleeves on the post adjacent said guide means, said follower means being engageable with said guide means to control the relative position of said sleeves on said posts and power means for rotating said cross-shaft and posts whereby a bale positioned between said fingers is clamped by the fingers incident to the rotation of the fingers and sliding toward one another of the sleeves on the posts.

2. A roll-over mechanism according to claim 1 where in said stationary guide means is adjustably mounted for establishing the extent of movement of said sleeves.

3. A roll-over mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said stationary guide means includes resilient portions for varying the application of the bale clamping force in the passing of the follower means thereover.

4. A roll-over mechanism as in claim 3 including adjusting means for altering the resiliency of said resilient portions.

5. A roll-over mechanism as in claim 1 including fingers projecting in the same plane on diametrically opposed sides of the sleeves.

6. A roll-over mechanism as in claim 1 including means for causing the power means to be actuated incident to the movement of a bale on to said bale supporting fingers.

7. A roll-over mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said guide means is substantially circular on a major portion of its edge and is irregularly shaped on the remaining edge portion. 1

8. A roll-over mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes two pieces one of which is pivotably joined to the other and means is provided to limit the movement of the pivotably mounted piece.

9. A roll-over mechanism as in claim 1 wherein all sleeves are freely slidable on said posts toward the ends of posts and the guide means and guide followers limit the movement of said sleeves toward said cross-shaft.

10. A roll-over mechanism as in claim 1 wherein stasleeves.

References Cited in the file of this patent tionary guide means are provided adjacent each of said 10 2,984,364

UNITED STATES PATENTS Campbell Aug. 18, 1942 Kellam Dec. 4, 1956 Hageline et al Sept. 9, 1958 Hedderich Dec. 23, 195 8 Lamb May 16, 1961 

1. A BALE ROLL-OVER MECHANISM COMPRISING A SUPPORTING FRAME, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, ROTATABLE CROSS-SHAFT MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON SAID FRAME, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED POSTS MOUNTED ON SAID CROSS-SHAFT MEDIALLY OF THE ENDS THEREOF, TWO SLEEVES SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON EACH POST, ONE ABOVE AND ONE BELOW SAID CROSS-SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED BALE SUPPORTING AND CLAMPING FINGERS SECURED TO AND BETWEEN THE PAIR OF SLEEVES ABOVE AND THE PAIR OF SLEEVES BELOW SAID CROSS-SHAFT, A BALE ENGAGING MEANS SECURED TO SAID CROSS-SHAFT AT RIGHT ANGLE TO SAID FINGERS, STATIONARY GUIDE MEANS MOUNTED ADJACENT AT LEAST ONE OF SAID POSTS, FOLLOWER MEANS SECURED TO BOTH OF THE SLEEVES ON THE POST ADJACENT SAID GUIDE MEANS, SAID FOLLOWER MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID GUIDE MEANS TO CONTROL THE RELATIVE POSITION OF SAID SLEEVES ON SAID POSTS AND POWER MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CROSS-SHAFT AND POSTS WHEREBY A BALE POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID FINGERS IS CLAMPED BY THE FINGERS INCIDENT TO THE ROTATION OF THE FINGERS AND SLIDING TOWARD ONE ANOTHER OF THE SLEEVES ON THE POSTS. 